Mushrooms boost health

Researchers from Penn State have found that shiitake, oyster and maitake mushrooms as well as more common portabellas and white buttons contain high levels of an antioxidant linked with protection against chronic disease.

White button mushrooms and portabellas were found to contain about 12 times more of the antioxidant ergothioneine than wheat germ and four times more than chicken liver, previous top-rated sources of the compound.

They say exotic mushrooms, including shiitake, oyster, king oyster or maitake, can contain higher levels of the anti-oxidant, about 40 times as much as wheat germ.

Levels of ergothioneine do not decrease when mushrooms are cooked.